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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

"HAYABUSA: Back to the Earth"

Not only those who have been anticipated the return of space probeHayabusa (meaning "falcon" for Japanese) but also those who hadn't known it at all till the other day would have been excited and overjoyed by the spectacular return of Hayabusa on June 13th, 2010, three years behind schedule. I was moved to see Hayabusa burning apart, streaking in the night sky like fireballs, on it's re-entering to the Earthafter 7 years adventure to and from an asteroid Itokawa.
(See the moment of re-entry to the Earch.)

So, I went to Osaka Science Museum(located at Higobash, Osaka) to see a dome-movie made of computer graphics, HAYABUSA: Back to the Earth, at the planetarium. (Trailer) Actually going and seeing it had been a matter of time because my husband is very intereted in Hayabusa project. Some interested people would buy DVDs or Blue-ray Discs, but I wanted to see it at the planetarium. You would know why, if you have been to and know what it's like to have a view of 360 degrees sitting on a reclining seat at a planetarium. The movie is a brief record of Hayabusa's mission from May, 2003 to April, 2009.

"A lot of space probes were launched to the universe, but Hayabusa is the only one which is coming back to the Earth completing its mission." ....... "Only Japanese team has chosen 'ion engine' to move the space explorer." ........ While listening to the narration (the narrator called Hayabusa as "he" or "you") as I saw the film, something warm filled my heart and tears came into my eyes. Why? Because I saw heroic character in Hayabusa. Hayabusa is a robot which can think on its own (within the extent of programming), while it is operated by remote control from the Earth when possible. Since the launching, Hayabusa suffered lots of machine troubles and malfunctions one after another. Nevertheless, Hayabusa as well as the human team worked hard to overcome the troubles one by one with never-give-up spirits.

The planetarium was filled to the capacity (300 seats) today. I heard it had been rather sparse till the other day. Planetarium Hall schedule

6 comments:

Thank you for posting the youtube. How beautiful the color Hayabusa plunges into the earth. We can see he defends the capsule. He burned out but we could see the trace of the capsule. I hope there is dust of Itokawa in the capsule.And how marvelous Japanese's technique is! In the recession now, this technique may be tie in the development of Japan.

Thank you for your introducing “youtube, Hayabusa”.Although I had never remembered about Hayabusa while in its long journey, I was very touched with the news on “Hayabusa back to the Earth”. Hayabusa completed its great mission in spite of the unexpected many troubles with the rocket. Not only its return with sand from an asteroid Itokawa to the Earth is one step to know about the origin of the Earth but also the success may boost hope human flight to another planet in the distant future. I also admire the endeavor of the Japanese team and the other people involved in the launch. I enjoy to imagine about what Hayabusa saw in the pitch dark space, (though that must be beyond my pictures).

In my Reading Group, we are now reading a science fiction story about space travel. The story touches on several important moral issues related to science and human progress. It should be interesting to consider the story above of Japanese technological achievement in the light of those issues.In FAME, we also recently debated the topic "Robots will save the world". The motion was defeated. In the Japanese media, I hear only positive comments, yet surely people have private doubts. Even after "I, Robot", I still hear no doubting public voices. This makes me somewhat uneasy.

Thank you sarari, and redrose, for the comments. I think I reacted much more emotionally than intellectually because the struggling of Hayabusa (and human team) was overlapped with a serious hardworking man's life; sailing into society with high expectations, troubles, misfortunes, success from time to time, new challenges, completion of mission till the very end, and burned out.

Welcome to my Blog

Welcome to my blog, and my world! I’m a Japanese, born and raised in Kobe, a cosmopolitan port city, and now living in Nara, the cradle of Japanese culture. I'm happy to share things and places I love with you and exchange ideas and thoughts. Thank you for stopping by and taking time.

Hakuba Village, Nagano

Oide Suspension Bridge

Rainbows on earth

Lilies at Maishima Island

Winter pond reflection

Saho River, Nara

the sea of Kobe westward

Danny's Christmas tree

Outward from the Home Planet

The Earth reminded us of a Christmas tree ornament hanging in the blackness of space. As we got farther and farther away it diminished in size. Finally it shrank to the size of a marble, the most beautiful marble you can imagine. That beautiful, warm, living object looked so fragile, so delicate, that if you touched it with a finger it would crumble and fall apart. Seeing this has to change a man, has to make a man appreciate the creation of God and the love of God.
- James Irwin -

The Blue Marble via Wikimedia

from my son's wedding album

The Little Church

If you want your dream to be
Build it slow and surely.
Small beginnings, greater ends.
Heartfelt work grows purely.

If you want to live life free,
Take your time, go slowly.
Do few things, but do them well.
Simple joys are holy.

Isui-en Garden

About Me

I am a Japanese, non-native speaker of English, who likes to think about things and express them in English. I named my handle name "Stardust." I'm consisted of particles, like a stardust, drifting in space, hoping to shine with her spirit burning bright someday. Still, such particles feel and think on this planet -- what a mystery, what a wonder, what a blessing!
My icon lotus flower symbolizes "spiritual growth from the muddy darkness to the light of the sun".